When the Pony Express Co. cancels its contract with Bill Harkins and his father Sam, the Harkins decide to bid for a stage line. Because their bid is very close to two others, one from Ferguson and another from the Banton brothers, the stage company agrees to award the contract to the winner of a race over hazardous territory. Roy Banton is in love with Mary Tolliver, but she considers herself Bill's girl. Bill and Roy fight over Mary at a dance, leading Roy to plan his revenge. One of Roy's men saws part way through the spokes of the Harkins stage. When Bill is riding through the rough terrain, the spokes break and his stage is destroyed, thereby enabling the Bantons to win the contract. Examining his stagecoach, Bill realizes what happened. He recognizes a horse as belonging to someone who attacked him in the dark and follows it to the Bantons. As Roy is still planning a way to get rid of Bill, he frames him for the robbery of the stage and the murder of Mary's father by having one of his men ride Smoke, Bill's distinctive palomino. Meanwhile, Sam sets a trap for the Bantons. The sheriff insists on a fair trial for Bill. Smoke has killed the bandit riding him and he leads Bill to the body of Tolliver's real murderer. After Sam's trap catches the gang, the Harkins take over the stagecoach line and Bill and Mary get married.